Category: Reviews

The wait is over! Carly Pearce’s debut album is here and it is amazing. Such a bluesy feel to this album, I love it.

While women in country are having to contend against everyone for recognition, it’s exciting to see Pearce’s album being received so well on social media and by critics alike. Some elements of Pearce’s album could be compared to Miranda Lambert or Maren Morris, like “Hide The Wine” and “Color”, but regardless of this, Pearce is smashing it all by herself, doing women in country proud.

While the album is true to her Kentucky roots, some songs ere more on the side of pop country, not that this makes it any less of a great country album. Tracks like “Color” and “Careless” have more of a pop-based feel to them, but the guitars and Pearce’s southern voice bring them right back to country.

“Hide The Wine” and “Catch Fire” on the other hand are evidently bluegrass inspired with the … and arguably two of the best on the album lyrically, along with “Every Little Thing”. The title track has been a serious hit and it’s not hard to see why. The arrangement makes it stand out from other songs in the country chart, with Pearce’s strong into soft vocals, against a gentle instrumental background of the piano and dobro. It’s musical perfection and a song that will create a legacy for Pearce, similar to Morris’ “My Church” and Cam’s “Burning House”.

It’s really tough to name the best song, so I’ll name a few that I think really define this album: “Hide The Wine”, “Everybody Gonna Talk”, “Every Little Thing”, “I Need a Ride Home”. As though there was any doubt, Every Little Thing proves Pearce is a true country artist, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her.

At 81 years old, Kris Kristofferson just played Glastonbury Festival for the first time. Appearing on the Pyramid Stage on Friday night, Kristofferson opened with my second personal favourite (the first being ‘Sunday Morning Coming Down’), ‘Me and Bobby McGee’.

Despite his age showing through each melancholy verse, each song was performed with such mournful delight and it was truly a pleasure to watch.

He changed the lyrics of ‘Help Me Make It Through the Night’ to sing ‘help me make it through tonight‘, as he had also done months ago at a show in Kansas. This bittersweet moment was one of many throughout his performance. Kristofferson repeatedly ended his songs with ‘I think it finishes there’ or words to that effect, showing that time takes its toll, sparing no one, not even the greats. Kristofferson delivered, though through a fading voice, a devastatingly wonderful set.

If you took nothing from his set today other than an old man in front of a under-appreciative crowd, take this: Kristofferson is the perfect example of why you should never stop striving, and should always do what you love.

Like the rest of the world, I fell in love with Chris Stapleton’s voice the first time I heard it. Willing to listen to anything new that’s classified as ‘country’, I listened to Traveler as soon as it was released,not knowing what to expect. We all know how that one turned out, so here I am to praise From A Room: Volume 1 to the highest degree.

The album pairs country and blues perfectly, as he tells a variety of stories through the harmonicas and instruments making up the country twang. Search Stapleton’s name on Twitter and there is nothing but love for the album, the voice and the man himself. Despite his extraordinary talent, he remains humble, particularly when performing live – when we are most in awe. Also needing a shoutout is Stapleton’s wife, Morgane who in her own right is a brilliant singer/songwriter. She can be seen standing right there next to him on stage, singing those perfect harmonies. Continue reading “Album Review: From A Room: Vol 1”→

Brad Paisley’s done it again! First came the touching music video for “Today”, the first single off new album Love and War, followed by a hilarious equivalent for the brilliant, “selfie#theinternetisforever”. Now, he has shared a similar video for new single, “Last Time For Everything”, this time in eighties throwback home-video style, with a title screen straight out of Stranger Things and David Hasselhoff reprising his role as Michael Knight from eighties classic Knight Rider. Continue reading “Brad Paisley’s Eighties Inspired Video”→

Zac Brown Band have released another single from their upcoming album Welcome Home, along with a lyric video. I love “My Old Man” and “Real Thing” but I think “Family Table” might be my favourite of the new album so far. The song is an ode to a piece of furniture, as well as a heartfelt metaphor for the comfort of family. The lyrics echo this sentiment as ZBB sing, “it’s the cornerstone that held us all up”.Continue reading “Family Table Review﻿”→

Willie Nelson has revealed his tribute to friend Merle Haggard on the anniversary of his death. The new song will feature on his upcoming album God’s Problem Child.

Haggard passed away on April 6th 2016 – his 79th birthday. A year on, country stars came together in Nashville for a tribute concert, ‘Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard’. There were performances from artists such as Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen, Kacey Musgraves to name a few, to show appreciation of Haggards contribution to the world of country music, as Nelson sings ‘it wouldn’t be all it was without Merle‘. Continue reading “Willie Nelson’s Ode to Merle”→